Immune System Boosters

OUR BIOSUPERFOOD PRODUCTS and CORE HEALTH PRODUCTS OFFER POWERFUL IMMUNE BOOSTING NUTRIENTS!

These families of products are complements and offer the highest quality of food source nutrients you will find anywhere. Nutrients from foods are identified easier and used by our bodies better thus providing health benefits beyond that of isolated or synthetic nutrients. Want to know more about the difference, read this.  A list of actual immune system boosting nutrients are listed below, just scroll the page and get informed!

Our immune system is very complex with multiple layers that can provide protection against harmful invaders (bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites) and stop abnormal cell proliferation. It is highly dependent on many nutrients to make the many different compounds, enzymes, blood cells, antigens,etc.. required to keep us healthy.

Most people do not consume adequate amounts of the foods rich in the nutrients required to promote a healthy immune system. Your best bet to keep your immune system functioning at a high level is to eat a diet rich in a variety of vegetables, fruits, beans, whole grains, nuts and seeds and limit the intake of saturated fats from animal foods. In addition to your daily diet, we recommend a daily complement to insure your body is receiving optimal nutrition.

Vegetative foods are rich in vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, proteins, fiber, complex carbohydrates, antioxidants and other phytonutrients that actually provide cellular protection against these invaders and abnormal cell proliferation. Recent large studies from England and Germany show that a vegetarian diet can actually double the number of NK (natural killer) cells protecting against certain cancers and can reduce the risk of ischemic heart disease when compared to the diets of non-vegeterians. Source: Malter M, Schriever G, Eilber U. Natural killer cells, vitamins, and other blood components of vegetarian and omnivorous men. Nutr Cancer 1989;12:271-8.  

To list all of the nutrients important to our immune function would take pages so we will keep it simple and list those that most people have heard of. 

Antioxidants act as a major part of the bodies defense system. They neutralize free radicals stopping them from harming cells and their genetic makeup such as DNA. There are thousands of antioxidants and the body makes many of its own. Antioxidants are best consumed in foods. In foods they act together with other nutrients that support overall body health, particularly the immune response. Too many antioxidants from supplements can actually suppress immune function. This can happen because the body needs some free radical activity caused by the immune system to destroy unhealthy cells and harmful invaders.

Vitamin A enhances white blood cell function, enhances resistance to infection and carcinogens, and helps maintain skin and mucus membrane defenses to infection. It is also important for intestinal membrane, vision and bone health, not to mention many other body activities.

Beta carotene  is rich in orange and yellow vegetables and fruits such as rice bran, carrots, yams, cantaloupe, butternut squash and dark green leafy vegetables. Our body turns beta carotene into Vitamin A as needed. It is a very powerful antioxidant that promotes immune system function in many ways. There are hundreds of different health building carotenoids such as lycopene and zeanxanthin .

B Vitamins particularly B6, Folate and B12 are very important for immune function. B6 deficiency which is common in teens and adults that eat a diet rich in refined foods can lead to a reduction in white blood cell response and a shrinkage of the critical immune system organ the thymus. B12 and folate are responsible for the building and the multiplying of healthy cells. Without these B Vitamins, white blood cells can't mature and multiply. B Vitamins are widely available in many vegetables, whole grains such as rice bran, dairy and meats. You also find them in fortified cereals and breads.

Vitamin C is vitally important for many functions in our bodies including keeping healthy blood vessels, bones, heart, joints, skin, digestive tract lining, vision, energy metabolism and it increases the absorption of iron from iron containing foods. It is alsoresponsible for building collagen. It is a very powerful antioxidant and responsible for keeping cell membranes healthy. It also acts with other antioxidants and can recharge their antioxidant capability. Vitamin C is widely found in many foods. The foods with the highest sources in order of content are papaya, bell peppers, broccoli, brussel sprouts, strawberries, oranges, cantaloupe, kiwi, cauliflower and kale. All citrus fruits and leafy greens are also good providers of Vitamin C.  

Vitamin D helps regulate immune system activity, preventing an excessive or prolonged inflammatory response. Our immune cells, specifically our active T-cells, have receptors for vitamin D. This is important because autoimmune diseases-including multiple sclerosis, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, irritable bowel diseases (such as Crohn's and ulcerative colitis) all have a T-cell component of inflammation. In addition, Vitamin D is very important for turning calcium and phosphorus into healthy bone and controlling the amount of calcium and phosphorus in the blood.  The best source of Vitamin D is 15 to 25 minutes of sunshine on your face and arms 3 times per week. It is also found in cold water fish such as cod and salmon, egg yolks and fortified foods. 

Vitamin E is a very powerful antioxidant that protects cell membranes. It works together with a group of other nutrients such as Vitamin B3, Vitamin C, glutathione and selenium to reduce oxidative stress (free radical attacks). It is particular protective of the skin, intestinal membranes and organs and helps reduce the risk of peripheral neuropathy. Sunflower seeds are the best source of Vitamin E. Other good sources are rice bran, almonds, olives, spinach, swiss chard, mustard greens, collard greens, turnip greens and papaya. High intake of Vitamin E from supplements has shown to have a negative health effect so avoid taking high doses of Vitamin E in supplement form.

Magnesium is involved in over 300 hundred different body functions. It works with calcium to regulate muscle contraction and relaxation. It is very important for blood pressure regulation.  It is very involved in gene expression and fundamental sites for possible interaction within the immune system including cell transformation, cell cycle regulation, nuclear DNA/chromatin stabilization, reactive oxygen species production and effects on enzymatic and hormonal actions, some of them closely related to the immune system status. Foods that are excellent sources of magnesium are rice bran, pumpkin seeds, swiss chard, spinach, salmon, black beans, navy beans, sunflower seeds, soybeans, black strap molasses and halibut.

Copper  A recent study shows that a diet deficient in copper affects the human immune system, reducing the activity of some cells that attack invading bacteria. Excellent sources of copper include calf's liver, crimini mushrooms, turnip greens and molasses.Very good sources of copper include chard, spinach, sesame seeds, mustard greens, kale, summer squash, asparagus, eggplant, and cashews. It is also found in rice bran.

Zinc Many types of immune cells appear to depend upon zinc for optimal function. Particularly in children, researchers have studied the effects of zinc deficiency (and zinc supplementation) on immune response and number of white blood cells, including specific studies on T lymphocytes, macrophages, and B cells (all types of white blood cells). In these studies, zinc deficiency has been shown to compromise white blood cells numbers and immune response, while zinc supplementation has been shown to restore conditions to normal. Great sources of Zinc include Calf's liver, crimini mushrooms and spinach. Good sources include sea vegetables, basil, thyme, spinach, pumpkin seeds, yeast, beef, and lamb. Good sources also include rice bran,beef, lamb, summer squash, asparagus, venison, chard, collard greens, miso, shrimp, maple syrup, broccoli, peas, yogurt, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds and mustard greens. Like Vitamin E, too much Zinc will actually suppress immune function and can also cause a deficiency in copper levels in the body. This is more likely to happen when taking Zinc supplements, not from zinc in dietary food sources.

Selenium works to protect the body from free radical attacks working along side Vitamin C, Vitamin  E, glutathione and Vitamin B3. Selenium has been shown to induce DNA repair and synthesis in damaged cells, to inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells, and to induce their apoptosis, the self-destruct sequence the body uses to eliminate worn out or abnormal cells. In addition, selenium is incorporated at the active site of many proteins, including glutathione peroxidase, which is particularly important for cancer protection. One of the body's most powerful antioxidant enzymes, glutathione peroxidase is used in the liver to detoxify a wide range of potentially harmful molecules. Brazil nuts have the highest concentrations of selenium of any food. Nutrients from food sources have the least potential to have toxic effects however in the case of selenium and brazil nuts it is not recommended to eat more than 2 per day so as to not build selenium levels to a toxic state. Enjoy just one Brazil nut each day and ensure your selenium levels remain OK. Grown or raised under ideal soil conditions, button mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms, cod, barley, sunflower seeds, turkey, mustard seeds, and oats are all good sources of selenium.

Glyconutrients or polysaccharides such arabinogalactan (AG) improve immune function. AG seems to enhance immune response and may be termed a biological response modifier. AG seems to increase natural killer (NK) cell and macrophage activity. AG is a fiber and acts as a prebiotic. It is found in rice bran and other grains and vegetables, but the highest source is the western larch Tree.

Omega fatty acid studies have shown that Omegas 3,6 and 9 can increase natural killer (NK) cell activity and act as a potent immunomodulator for the treatment and restoration of immune dysfunction.  Rice bran and algae are excellent sources as well as salmon, flax seed, soybeans, and most vegetative foods.

Alpha Lipoic Acid is a very powerful antioxidant that reduces the harmful effects of free radical attacks. It is both water and fat soluble making it unique in that it can assist other nutrients in both worlds. It assists Vitamin C which is water soluble and Vitamin E which is Fat soluble. It is critical for energy metabolism and the conversion of sugars and fats to energy. The body makes this nutrient, however, good sources of this nutrient are rice bran, broccoli, spinach and other leafy green vegetables. It is also found in most animal foods.

Gamma Oryzanol Complex, includes over 20 different types of Gamma Oryzanol. They boost immune response, regulate blood sugar, increase energy, reduce inflammation, help build muscle and increase body leanness. Rice Bran is a rich source.

Inositol Hexaphosphate (IP6) recently has gained popularity as a cancer fighter. Experts feel that it also may play a role in the prevention and treatment of heart disease, kidney stones and liver disease. At this time, the exact mechanism through which IP-6 works is not known. It may decrease the proliferation of cancer cells, act as an antioxidant, enhance the immune system by boosting the activity of natural killer cells (which destroy abnormal cells), or influence cells’ ability to dedicate themselves to a particular function. Foods that are significant sources of IP-6 include rice bran, soybeans, rice, sesame, beans, legumes, corn and cereals.